Thanks to the older Korean man who offered to film this for me

Den første klasseturen jeg reiste på var til Brennabu i Valdres. Jeg mener, vi hadde jo vært på norsk folkemuseum og på munchmuseet for å se på skrik og på skogstur i nordmarka, men nå skulle vi på ordentlig tur, en uke borte, uten foreldre, bare oss i klassen, oss, og to andre klasser fra to skoler vi aldri hadde hørt om. Jeg husker det godt, jeg var elleve år, eller kanskje tolv, jeg gikk i femteklasse, hadde regulering og grønn adidasgenser med hvite striper på ermene. 

Jeg husker at jeg grugledet meg. Gruet meg, fordi jeg alltid pleide å bli bilsyk, i hvert fall bussyk, og nå skulle vi kjøre buss i mange timer, uten mamma og pappa som pleide å stoppe i veikanten dersom jeg måtte kaste opp. Dessuten skulle jo de kjekkeste, søteste, morsomste guttene være med, og det ville være flaut å måtte spy foran dem. For flaut.

Så jeg gruet meg.

Og gledet meg. Jeg gledet meg til å oppleve noe helt på egen hånd, noe stort, sove på firemannsrom for første gang, for eksempel, eller til å spise felles måltider i matsalen, kjøpe godteri i kiosken de tjue minuttene den var åpen, snike seg ut etter leggetid, ut på gangen og inn på rommet til guttene, der vi ville fnise helt til en lærer hørte oss og hentet oss tilbake. .

Siden den gang har jeg vært på mange klasseturer, jeg har vært i København, i Berlin, i New York og på Island, i Lofoten, ved Saltstraumen og nå, forrige lørdag, i Kanchanaburi, en provins som ligger nordvest for Bangkok. 

Så mange turer, men alltid samme følelse før avreise. 

Jeg grugleder meg. Gleder meg mest, men er alltid litt engstelig, litt redd for å oppleve nye ting sammen med folk jeg kanskje ikke kjenner så godt likevel, ikke så godt som jeg trodde, eller kanskje er det omvendt, noen ganger er det nok omvendt, at jeg er redd jeg ikke skal bli kjent med dem jeg reiser sammen med, til tross for det faktum at vi er turkamerater. Kanskje.

Heldigvis sitter jeg alltid igjen med samme følese når jeg er hjemme igjen også, det vil si, ikke den samme følelsen som før avreise, det er en helt annen følelse, men den samme hver gang, tilfredshet, eller kanskje er det glede. Med gode opplevelser, gode minner, og jeg kan ikke for mitt bare liv skjønne hva jeg var redd for i utgangspunktet.

Trykk her for å se flere bilder fra den ferskeste turen, den til Kanchanaburi nordvest for Bangkok.

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I remember the first trip I ever went on with my class. I mean, the first real trip, one week away, no parents, just me and my classmates and teachers, I was 11 years old, or maybe 12, I had braces and a green adidas-sweater with white stripes on the arms. 

I remember that I was both scared and happy for going on the trip, scared because I was afraid I should become nauseous on the bus and throw up in front of the cutest boy in class, happy because I wanted to experience something of my own, to sleep in the same room as three of my best friends, eat all the meals together every day, sneak out after bed-time to meet the boys in their room. 

Since then, I’ve been on many trips with my classes, I’ve been in Copenhagen, in Berlin, in New York, on Iceland, and last saturday I was in Kanchanaburi, a province north-west of Bangkok. 

I’ve been on many trips with my class, but still, the feelings I get before departure is the same. I’m scared at the same time as I’m looking forward to it, isn’t that weird? But always, when I come back, all the fear is replaced by good feelings, good memories. And I can’t understand what I was scared of in the first place. 

Click here to see more photos from the trip to Kanchanaburi. 

Next stop: Southeast Asia for some highlights of the public domain images available on the country pages in the CIA World Factbook.

The temple Wat Xieng Thong, Louangphrabang, Laos

The staircase of Phou Si is guarded by nagas (serpent deities), Louangphrabang, Laos.

That Dam stupa (“the black stupa”), Vientiane, Laos

The Burma Railway bridge spanning Khwae Yai River, Kanchanaburi, Thailand, the subject of “The Bridge Over the River Kwai”

Standing Buddha, Wat (Temple) Ubtgarawugan, Bangkok, Thailand                      at the Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand

Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand

Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok boats

Angkor Wat temple complex, Cambodia

Tree roots, Angkor Wat temple, Cambodia

Fishing the freshwater lake of  Tonle Sap, Cambodia

Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Vietnam

South China Sea coastline, Vinh Moc, Vietnam

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Sea Temple of Pura Luhur, Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia

According to most historians, the ancient town of Kanchanaburi was located near Ban Lat Ya, a small village situated approximately 16 kilometers north of the present town. The site was repeatedly recorded in Thai history as an invasion route which the Burmese used to enter Thai Kingdoms.

Kanchanaburi, which has mostly mountainous terrain, covers an area of approximately 19,473 square kilometers and is the third largest province in Thailand after Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima. Situated approximately 129 kilometres west of Bangkok, Kanchanaburi shares a border with Myanmar to the west, Tak and Uthai Thani Provinces to the north, Suphan Buri and Nakhon Pathom Provinces to the east, and Ratchaburi Province to the south.

In north and west Kanchanaburi, the terrain is comprised mainly of mountains and high plains, with the Thanon Thongchai Range acting as a natural border between Thailand and Myanmar. The range is the source of Kanchanaburi’s two most important rivers Maenam Khwae Noi and Maenam Khwae Yai, which form the famous Maenam Mae Klong. As a result, several of Thailand’s largest Namtok (waterfalls) and most extensive wildlife sanctuaries are found in this area.

The magnificent landscape and charming beauty of Kanchanaburi have resulted in major tourist attractions including several well-known waterfalls, caves which were once inhabited by Neolithic man, pristine national parks, tranquil rivers, virgin forests, and reservoir. Together, they offer an intriguing experience for first-time or repeat visitors. Whether its fishing, rafting, canoeing, mountain biking, bird-watching, star-gazing, golfing, elephant and jungle trekking, or even living in bamboo rafts, Kanchanaburi takes pride in offering them all.

The city of Kanchanaburi is located at the point where two tributaries, the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai meet and form the Maenam Mae Klong. This is the location of the notorious Death Railway and the Bridge on the River Khwae one of the worlds famous World War II sites which have been immortalized in print and film.

In economic terms, Kanchanaburi has been doing well on a national scale, with over 10 per cent growth annually. Important industries include sugar, agricultural products and jewelry. Tourism is also a main source of income for the locals as the provinces high tourism potential has made Kanchanaburi number one among the west provinces in having the highest number of visitors each year.

Residents of Kanchanaburi are engaged in agricultural activities. Most of the locals are of Thai ancestry with notable Mon and Karen minorities. Rural dwellers enjoy living simply and respecting nature. Moreover folk music and dances dating back at least 500 years are still performed today.

Source: TAT

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I am experimenting with embedding a slideshow from Flickr. The slideshow is of a collection of my photographs called “Learning in the Real World”. It has some photographs from my previous schools in Bangladesh and China.

What do you think of the photos? Are you in any of them? Can you describe what they show?

I really liked what Amy wrote in her reflection for homework yesterday:

“The most memorable moment for me was when we created the camp sites because it’s something different and this activity has turned me into a different person. While we were creating the campsite I felt surprised of how people treat each other. That’s a different feeling. I have never felt this surprised before.”

What do you think? Were you just as surprised as Amy was by the way that you all treated each other in the Camp Site Challenge? What kind of behaviour surprised you?

Nous avons pris un tour organisé pour la journée avec au programme les chutes d’eau d’Erawan, une ballade à dos d’éléphant, un tour de bambou raft, la visite d’une grotte avec un grand bouddha, tour dans un train ancien et pont de la rivière kwai. Nous partagions un minivan avec deux anglais et deux autres français super sympa Rémi et Virginie.

télécharger notre itinéraire

Le parc national d’Erawan

Situé à 65 KM de Kanchanaburi (une heure de route en minivan, sur une route impeccable), le parc offre une ballade dans la forêt à la découverte de 7 cascades magnifiques. A vous d’apprécier, nous on a adoré.

Chute numéro 1 :

Chute numéro 2

Chute numéro 3

Chute numéro 4 :

Chute numéro 5

Chute numéro 6 :

Chute numéro 7 (dernière à 1500 m du centre d’informations)

Et une fois en haut il a fallu redescendre …

Après un déjeuner dans une gargote thaï, nous avons sommes allés au « elephant camp » pour une promenade à dos d’éléphant. Nous avions tellement aimé celle de Chitwan que nous étions impatient de renouveler l’expérience. Sauf que là c’était nul et sans intérêt. Ils nous ont casés par 3 sur un siège sans aucune protection et on a fait le tour du jardin du propriétaire ou plutôt du champ d’herbes hautes pour que les éléphants puissent manger… Limite dangereux avec des enfants et sans aucun intérêt … Camille a même dit qu’elle préférerait être à l’école car au moins les copains eux ne s’ennuient pas perchés à rien faire sur un éléphant ! Ah les enfants !!!

Puis 40 minutes de raft (sur la rivière Kwaï avec peu de courant) à bord d’un radeau de bambou aménagé (banc en bambou et toit en paille). Lent, calme et reposant. Rien d’autre à faire que se laisser bercer par le rythme de la rivière et regarder les oiseaux.

La visite d’une grotte avec bouddha assis doré …. Peu d’intérêt

Puis 30 minutes en train avec une vieille locomotive des années 60 sur les voies d’époque en direction du fameux pont de la rivière Kwaï, mais on s’est arrêté avant le pont pour reprendre la voiture jusqu’au pont. Pourquoi n’avoir pas continué jusqu’au pont ???? Trajet chaotique et bruyant mais animé par de jeunes écoliers rentrant chez eux : rires, chamailleries et guitare rendent le voyage sympathique.

Your homework this week is all about the Action Cycle. Making choices is a part of the Action Cycle. In this homework task you need to read your reflection about the Kanchanaburi Camp and you need to choose one part to focus on for the rest of the week.

Make a comment and tell us what you have chosen to focus on. Explain, in detail, why you made that choice.

Pour faire les 150 KM qui séparent Bangkok de Kanchanaburi nous avons opté pour le confort nous avons repris le même taxi (gros monospace) que pour le trajet aéroport qui nous a proposé le trajet pour 30 euros à 6 avec les bagages.

télécharger notre itinéraire

C’est deux fois plus cher que le bus, mais il a pris au pied de l’hôtel à Bangkok pour nous déposer au pied de l’hôtel à Kanchanaburi. Le confort ça se paye ! Donc 2 heures de route dans des conditions idéales.

Nous avions réservé depuis la France au Thaï garden Inn, ensemble de bungalows assez intimes (11 bungalows au total, dont deux pour nous) disposés autour d’un joli jardin.

A l’arrière une agréable piscine que les enfants ont vite testée et approuvée.

Après un déjeuner dans un resto Thaï avec une aire pour enfants et un grand choix de poissons dans les bassins …

… Nous avons fait une bonne marche (2 km l’aller par le centre ville ) pour rejoindre le pont de la rivière kwaï.

Au cours de notre promenade, nous avons croisé un petit être bien sympathique : un bébé léopard de 5 mois… on a eu le droit de le caresser (ça fait comme un chat en fait, bon d’accord un gros chat !!!).

Sur la route du retour, on a traversé des champs de bananiers, de cocotiers, on a vu une énorme mue de serpent, on n’ose même pas imaginer la taille de la bête maintenant (bouh …) et on a acheté des bananes directement chez le producteur, charmant monsieur.

I just took photo in the bus, but I forgot camera in my bag when I played in Kanchanaburi.  So I couldn’t take photo in  Kanchanaburi . It was  very regret. So someone  who has photo about Kanchanaburi please post your photo.

This is photo I took in the bus

We all know that we have just been to Kanchanaburi. I think everyone will remember this in the future for an experience which changed their lives, all of us know that we had a time of our lifes but sometimes their were bad points which happened during the camp and good points.

So I would really like as many people to post a comment on this question, what were the really good points and what were the bad points. If we do this we might make it better for the next year to come.

As we all know, the year 6s went to Kanchanaburi for our Unit of Inquiry called “HOW WE EXPRESS OURSELVES”. We have came back today at about 2:00. We did alot of activities during the trip so I would like to know the top 3 activities you did. It would also be nice if you could do some postings and post some of the photos you did of what you enjoyed.

*PS. I couldn’t post pictures because I didn’t bring a camera with me and I couldn’t get them form Khun Siew yet.

I haven’t been that active on my blog lately. Since my husband came back from Iraq, I’ve been spending a lot of time with him and we’ve been chilling with friends and traveling. We went on a little river adventure trip in Kanchanaburi province of Thailand, and we had such a wonderful time visiting historical sites like the Hellfire Pass, War Cemetery, and the Bridge Over the River Kwai.

We stayed at this on a raft house right on the river. It was just so peaceful. WE left the resort on a bamboo raft to get back to the real word. One of the best trips we’ve ever taken in my opinion. It was no luxurious getaway but a lot of fun Better do it while we’re young !

The highlights of the trip was the morning bath with the elephants and hiking and cooling down at Erawan Waterfall. A lot of people who come to Thailand always want to ride elephants. We’ve done a lot of elephant riding and while it’s a great experience.. Elephant bathing was just awesome! ! The elephants enjoyed it too, which made it so much better.

These are the friends we made on the trip, great people

Another update from our side of the world is the BIG MOVE. We’re heading back to Korea this time to Osan AB. Look forward to being done with moving! Ai! haha I’m going to take some time visiting some of my favorite blogs now

****************OHH BIG NEWS(FOR ME) Martha Stewart Living is available in Thai language! Which means it is cheaper! The imported English issues are 425 baht or 12 bucks each. YIKES! I couldn’t grab the first issue because I’ve been in Korea the first half of November and they are all SOLD OUT at the magazine stand near my house.. And I think pretty much every where else.. BUMMERS! Thai people love Martha too Since I will be in Korea and on a US military post I guess I will be grabbing the originals soon!

Am reusit sa stabilim programul pentru cele trei saptamani pe car ele vom petrece de sarbatori in Tailanda si, mai ales, sa ne facem rezervari la transport, hoteluri si tururi inca de pe acum. Planul de bataie este urmatorul. Ajungem pe 18 (dupa vreo 13 ore si ceva de zbor direct din Madrid), ne dezmeticim la Ta si Anuchit langa Bangkok in Nonthaburi, apoi pe 19 il luam pe Alexil direct de la aeroport si mergem in satul natal al lui Ta in provincia Chanthaburi (vest aproape de granita cu Cambogia). Este orasul unor preparate culinare senzationale si a diamantelor gigant; daca gasesc ceva pe la cascade sau pe plaja, promit sa nu va uit.

Pe 20 seara ne intoarcem in Bangkok, iar pe 21 mergem o zi in Ayuthaya, sa vedem vechea capitala cu frumoasele ei temple de pe si de langa rau. Noaptea luam autobuzul catre nordul indepartat, destinatia Chiang Mai. Aici program incarcat doua zile si jumatate: resedinta regala, cascade, mers cu elefantul prin jungla, rafting, safari nocturn, cafea proaspat culeasa din gradina localnicilor, vizitarea templelor din orasul vechi, masaj la inchisoarea de femei. Cazare cu 450 bahti camera (adica nici 10 euro) in centru la Banilah. Pe 24, dupa-amiaza, ne luam talpasita (pardon zborul) catre Krabi, in sud, cu o mica escala de o ora in Bangkok (ieftin, pentru un ajun de Craciun, vreo 80 de euro).

A doua zi dimineata avem rezervat un tur cu barca. Vom face inspectia plajelor din Ko Phi Phi, o insula paradis din Oceanul Indian (de abia astept sa vad Plaja Maimutelor si sa fac snorkeling pe acolo). Toata smecheria vreo 30 de euro. Ne intoarcem pe seara, luam masina pe care am inchiriat-o deja si plecam pe coasta catre Khao Lak (200 de km la nord, in zona tsunami), paradisul scufundarilor, una din primele 10 destinatii din lume in materie de asa ceva. Pe 26 avem rezervat turul de scufundari cu WikedDiving, foarte seriosi baietii, in Insulele Similan – parc national acvatic, lanturi de corali si rechini prietenosi. Aici si-a facut veacul si Cousteau, el popularizind Stanca lui Richelieu (mai tineti minte documentarele de pe vremea lui Ceasca, de la Teleenciclopedia)? Dormim iarasi in Khao Lak, dupa care a doua zi traversam Tailanda de la Vest la Est pentru a ajunge de la Oceanul Indian la Golful Tailandei, drum ce va trece prin jungla si Parcul National Khao Sok. Odata ajunsi in Surat Thani, ne suim pe o barca de transport cu destinatia Ko Samui, insula celor o mie de cocotieri. Cazare pe plaja din Jinta, aproape doua zile de relaxare totala…Baut, plaja, snorkeling, baie la cascadele de pe insula, nimic mai mult. Pe 29 seara luam avionul catre Bangkok unde probabil ca vom ateriza in Cartierul Rosu, sa vedem si asta cum arata comparativ cu cele din Tokyo, San Francisco, Paris sau Matasari/Basarab.

Pe 30 nu e vreme de stat, mergem o zi in Kanchanaburi, o locatie cheie in cel de-al doilea razboi mondial. Pe 31 ne intoarcem in Bangkok si pe la pranz plecam catre jungla si muntii din Parcul National Khao Yai, unde vom petrece si noaptea dintre ani. Nu stiu cum va fi, dar cu siguranta ineditul nu va lipsi. Pe 1 dupa-amiaza ne intoarcem in Bangkok unde vom ramane pana pe 4 noaptea cand ne intoarcem. Vom vizita templele, vom merge la o piata plutitoare, vom participa la un meci de box tailandez, ceva masaj si probabil ca viata de noapte.

Bugetul estimat pana acum este de 900 de euro in doi. Probabil cu tot cu mancare si alte cheltuieli vom ajunge la vreo 1400. Sper sa fie acea vacanta mult visata de cativa ani si sa am ce povesti si nepotilor. Pe voi cu siguranta o sa va stresez cu insemnari.

Friday afternoon we started our 112 km journey to Kanchanaburi. What seemed like a simple 2 hour bus ride from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi ended up being a little bit of an adventure. We started our journey soliciting a taxi from the hotel. We consulted with the concierge about an approximate cost from the hotel to the bus station. He advised it will take 1.5 hours and should be about 300 baht. He went outside to get us a taxi then we proceeded on our way. After several other encounters with taxi drivers that do not use the meters in an attempt to overcharge, we kindly asked if he would turn on the meter. He said “No meter!” We asked again, and he said “No Meter” because the concierge said 300 baht. Shortly after we left, the meter must have turned on by itself because it started keeping record of the cost. We got to the bus station and the meter said 200 baht. We whispered to one another, we’ll give him 2oo baht because that’s what the meter showed and the trip ended up only being 45 minutes. We first got our stuff then handed him the 200 baht. He said, no 300 baht. The concierge said 300 baht. We said, no, the meter says 200 baht. He started getting louder and more irate. I let the German accountant handle the argument. He and Gabriele were debating the cost for what seemed like 10 minutes. His voice was raising and Gabriele kept instructing him to calm down and not to yell. We went to hand him 40 more baht and he kept insisting on 300 baht. Mind you, we are arguing about a difference of 60 baht which is less than 2 dollars, but it was the principle. We never agreed to 300 baht, the concierge did and the meter showed 200 baht. He started cursing at us and everyone at the bus station was looking our direction. I’m actually glad we were at the bus station because he looked like he might whip out some Thai boxing moves on us. Eventually he left with the 240 baht. At that moment we agreed to not get in a taxi anymore until we agree that they will use the meter. No meter, we leave and find another one. We’ll see how that strategy works for us?!?

thought for sure they did not make it as they were going super fast in an old decrepit truck and likely not wearing seat belts. Next thing you see are the two young boys climbing out of the door while the truck is on its side. Both survived and didn’t even seem scratched – what a miracle! Our driver proceeds to slowly make his way over the lead pipes thrown all over the freeway. I’m thinking “we are surly going to get a flat!” No, he made his way over the lead pipes and continued on as if nothing happened. Gabriele and I starred at each other in disbelief. We made it to the bus station in Kanchanaburi in a record 1.5 hours.

We then called our hotel for them to come pick us up. We arrived at our peaceful retreat called “Apples’ retreat and Guesthouse.” Our accommodations are not VIP like in Bangkok, but our room is clean and we have AC and hot water. They just opened the new retreat along the river front in January. The setting is very quiet and tranquil.  The owners names are Apple and Noi, both of which are super friendly local woman. Over the past few days we have made friends with Apple. She has a great sense of humor and loves to talk to us about the local history and culture.

After getting settled we  decided to take a walk to the Bridge over the River Kwai which was only 1.5 km from our hotel. We saw the bridge from the non-touristy side (which is actually much prettier) our first evening then from the opposite side of the river the next day during our tour of the city. It was getting dark so we walked back quickly. We ate our first dinner at the restaurant where we are staying and had such a fantastic meal we have eaten there ever since. Kanchanaburi  is where we have finally started to experience the amazing local cuisine. Prior to Kanchanaburi we were eating buffets at the hotel, river cruise and show which did not accurately represent the amazing flavors  we have come to enjoy with the authentic Thai cooking.

I have turned from yellow curry being my favorite to a toss up between the red and green. The curry dishes are so delicious I haven’t had much else, I really do need to explore some of the noodle dishes as well. In addition to the food, we are also hooked on the various fruit lassis and shakes they offer: watermelon, pineapple, banana, lemon – yum! The watermelon shake is our favorite way to cool off in the afternoon. The Thai desserts are also delicious. I especially love the coconut rice patties cooked in the banana leaf.

We got a good nights sleep on Friday then started early on Saturday AM for our whirlwind tour of the areas sights. We started off our day heading to Erawan National Park to hike the 7 tiered waterfalls. Our guide told us to hike only to the 4th or 5th tier as we would not have time to make it all the way to the top. Of course we did not listen and knew we could make it in the time he had allocated. So, we started our ascent and ended up making it to the 7th tier with time to spare. The last 2 tiers required some scrambling over wet rocks so we were both glad we had our tevas on and not flip flops or sandals like many of the others. Our favorite tier was the 4th tier. We sat and stuck our feet in the water and had our first ‘fish massage.’ We saw a shop at the night market in Bangkok where you can pay for a ‘fish massage.’ That’s where you stick your feet in a huge aquarium with a bunch of other people and have hundreds of little fish nibble away at your dead skin. We debated trying this while in Bangkok but thought it unsanitary to stick our feet in the water with lots of other nasty peoples feet. So, at the waterfalls we got an authentic and free fish massage. As soon as we stuck our feet in the water fish came over and started nibbling off our dead skin. At first it really tickled, but then you kind of get use to it and even start enjoying the sensation?

After the falls we had lunch then went to the elephant camp to ride an elephant. We started out sitting on top of the elephant on a bench while the elephants owner rode him. We went up and down some trails then down to the river with the elephant for a swim. Once out of the water, the owner got off the elephant and lead him back by walking in front. He then offered us to take turns riding in the front of the elephant. I let Gabriele go first so I could see how well it went! I must admit I was a bit skeptical of riding the elephant bareback because they are really high up off the ground. But once I was doing it I felt more comfortable and was glad I gave it a try. I was surprised at how rough and hairy the elephant was. If riding for too long it could cause some serious chaffing!

There was an adorable baby elephant at the camp that we visited with after our ride. The baby was eager to come play with us and really enjoyed being pet. I think he enjoyed it so much that he was trying to escape out of his cage. As you can see he nearly succeeded with his two front legs out of the gate. Once the mom noticed she started easing him back in with her trunk.

jackets. We proceeded down the river with two young boys. The scenery along the river was very jungle-like; lush and uninhabited like much of the town. Kanchanaburi is very underdeveloped and full of beautiful scenery. We did not see another boat, tourist or local along the entire journey down the river. After a few minutes they offered for us to go for a swim in the river. They promised us there were no crocodiles or snakes. After some convincing we decided to go for a dip. After all, we could really use a shower after sweating in the hot, humid sun most of the day. The river water felt so refreshing!! We stayed in the water for the rest of the ride down the river. The water was flowing so quickly that we didn’t have to do any work to actually swim. At one point we propped our legs on the bamboo raft and just floated down on our backs.

Our driver picked us up and took us to the “Death Railway” tracks were we could ride a 30 minute portion of the tracks that are still in use today. I did not know much about The Death Railway prior to coming here, but Gabriele and I visited the Thailand-Burma Railway museum and learned more about the history. The Railway was ordered to be built by the Japanese military leaders during World War II and would consist of a 415-kilometre track bridging Thailand and Burma. They began construction in June of 1942 using 260,000 Allied and Asian POW’s. Nearly half of the POW’s were killed during the construction due to severe heat, poor living conditions, lack of

Our final stop of the day was to see the Bridge over the River Kwai from the other side of the river. We walked a portion of the railroad tracks over the bridge that are still in use today. Gabriele and I found it amazing that they allow tourists to walk across the bridge at any time. There are no controls to alert people when the train is actually coming other than the horn from the train as it approaches. People scramble to the ’safety areas’ which have been built along the bridge so you can stand on one of the platforms should you be caught on the bridge when the train passes. The bridge has wide open holes that people can easily fall through, yet herds of families with little children are casually walking across. You would never see something like this open to the public in the US.

We made our way back to the retreat and indulged in another delicious dinner. Following dinner we realized we did not have our daily exercise (i.e. Thai massage for me and Reflexology for Gabriele). We remembered the owners said massage could be arranged in the room. It was 9pm so we thought it too late to arrange, but I went to the front desk to inquire just in case. Next thing you know we have 2 ladies knocking on our door to execute our massages. We both smiled and thought “man, this is the life!” Gabriele fell asleep during her foot massage as usual while I was wide awake being twisted and stretched into various positions. We both fell soundly to sleep after they left!

Sunday we had a pretty mellow day. We slept in a bit then walked into town to visit the Thailand-Burma railway museum and Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. We then wandered into the Chinese temple nearby and sat in on some type of offering/ceremony with a local family and the monk. This time I sat Indian style J We came back to the hotel and chilled in the open air restaurant with Apple and talked more about Thailand and she warned us about the dengue fever. The travel clinic forgot to mention the dengue fever risk here so we were thankful to Apple for alerting us. Gabriele and I have been coating ourselves in deet (which we hate!), but would much prefer floating in deet  than contracting dengue fever.

Before dinner we tried a fancy bungalow style spa with gardens owned by a couple from Whales located about 30 minutes from our hotel. We both got a 30 minute hair treatment/scalp massage followed by a 1.5 hour Thai massage for me and foot massage for Gabriele. The atmosphere was really nice and the massage superb; however, I’m not sure it was worth the extra money. The owner rushed us to leave since another lady staying at our hotel needed to get back to catch a bus to Bangkok and they didn’t want to pay for 2 separate taxis. That meant, no time to enjoy the amenities. I’ll stick to the locally owned spas moving forward to support the Thais, as well as my unemployment income!

Monday we took the Thai cooking class offered by our hotel and conducted by Apple. We started with a trip to the local market at 9am to learn about the Thai produce and items needed to make our 4 dishes. The local market trip was very informative and super fun. Apple picked out many local fruits and Thai desserts for us to taste. Gabriele and I have a reputation here for being big eaters. We  each order double muesli with fruit  in the morning plus some type of fruit shake. Apple was joking at the market about how she needed to stuff us with Thai desserts so we don’t get hungry in the cooking class before lunch. It was really cool to be taken through the market with a local who could explain all the different types of veggies, herbs, pastes, fruits, seafood, mystery meats, etc.

Once back to the hotel we started our cooking class.  Apple recited the ingredients orally as we wrote them down on pads of paper we bought at the market. First she prepared each dish then had us couple off and cook each one ourselves. We made phad thai, green curry with chicken, stir fry chicken with ginger, and tom yam soup.

 To our surprise they all turned out quite well. Gabriele, Apple, and the couple who took the class with us sat around the table and ate quite a feast. We were unable to finish them all so we saved the left overs for dinner.

Following our cooking class we walked into town in search of an internet café so I could set up my blog. So, here I am, up and running and hoping to post more regularly now so it doesn’t take so long to update J  Tomorrow we are off to Hanoi, Vietnam through Bangkok.

Going away on school trips, like our camp at Kanchanaburi, is a powerful and special experience for everybody. Kids who go away on trips like this always come back different. They develop and grow as a result of the experience.

How do you think you will develop as a result of the camp? How will you be different when you return on Friday?